Nestled in the manistee national forest you will find hundreds of miles of marked trails for those who love to hike, bike, or in the winter, cross. Manistee river trail manistee county tourism manistee. It is considered, like the nearby au sable river, to be one of the best trout fisheries east of the rockies the river rises in the sand hills in southeastern. Whether day hiking or mulit day backpacking this is an amazing hike with awesome scenery. In the spring and fall, high numbers of anglers are attracted to the superb salmon and steelhead runs. Were hoping to get in the entire loop and do some fishing too. Backpack the manistee river trail loop, seaton creek camp. You will experience scenic hikes through the rolling hardwoods of the national forest and along the high bluffs overlooking the big manistee river and also visit a. But on one weekend in may in manistee, at dawn and again at noon, there are spectacular sights of a different variety to be witnessed. Trail relocations and improvements alter map data e. I look back on that trip as somewhat of a whirlwind, like i do most backpacking trips. Plan your hike at north country trailmanistee river trail loop or other mesick, michigan hiking trails.
Manistee rivernorth country trail loop hike meetup. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Manistee river trailmanistee national forest michigan trail maps. Its cool to see such a great hiking partner in your dog. Backpacking the north country trail manistee river trail.
The piers at the mouth of the manistee river are most often used for watching spectacular sunsets over lake michigan. On the east side of the river lies the manistee river trail, on the. For beginners, we recommend beginning at the red bridge trailhead and hiking along the north country trail side. The manistee national forest is not one continuous mass, but is a mosaic broken by private property and towns. Take the manistee river trail back to seaton creek campground to complete the loop. Youd think id learn to slow the pace a bit but every time. The north country trail takes you west of the manistee river, and the manistee river trail takes you along the east side of the river. Manistee river trailnorth country trail loop northern. Reviews of north country trailmanistee river trail loop.
Its a beautiful river and likely very beautiful year round we were there in august. Follow mi 55 west for 20 miles, then turn right on warfield road. Backpacking michigans manistee river trail and north. By combing the scenic manistee river trail with a portion of the north country trail, hikers can enjoy a 23mile, multiday trek with backcountry campsites, ridgetop views of the manistee river and even a waterfall or two. Water is plentiful, terrain is moderately challenging, and you cant beat the views. Backpacking michigans manistee river trail and north country. During the summer, walleye and pike fishing become the primary recreational activity. Backpacking the manistee river trailnct 20 mile loop in. Mar 27, 2015 trail manistee river trailnorth country trail loop where huronmanistee national forest. The trail features gorgeous views of manistee river, plenty of dispersedprimitive campsites to stay at campfires permitted, and easy access to water. Feb 08, 2017 the route begins at the upper river trailhead. We docked at the municiple marina along the river downtown. It is almost always busy on the manistee river trail side, campsites are often. Make a weekend of camping and hiking by taking the 23 mile manistee river tailnorth country trail loop.
Trails shown on this map are an approximate representation of the trail system a th ei m o fpub l cnd y r current ground conditions. Manistee river trailnorth country trail loop cadillac. Mar 24, 2020 the north country trail system is no stranger to gushing praise. North country trailmanistee river trail loop hiking trail. After 5 miles, turn left on coates highway, and the. Easily one of the best backpacking trails in lower michigan. Manistee river trailnorth country trail loop northern michigan.
Hiked the manistee river trail on a late august weekend. Backpacking the north country trail manistee river trail loop 2009 north country trail manistee river trail loop hike, may 2009. Manistee river trail backpacking guide my open country. Sep 14, 2015 the manistee river trail is a prime example of accessible backcountry hiking. Backpack the manistee river trail, manistee river trail. There are not designated campsites along the north country segment we will hike, but plenty of them along the manistee river segment. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The north country trail system is no stranger to gushing praise.
Many of the most scenic and accessible stretches of river may be found in the cadillac and manistee areas. Manistee river topo map in manistee county, michigan. May 10, 2017 we planned on three days and two nights to backpack the north country trail manistee river loop in lower michigan. Though there are established campsites along the trail, you may set any camp. Please consult government travel advisories before booking. Red hill tops out at 1,105 feet, and the trail descends to about 700 feet through flower flats. Manistee river loop trail, michigan 526528 backcountry post. Backpack the manistee river trail loop, seaton creek camp ground. The loop can be done in either direction, and we chose to first complete the white blazed manistee river trail, cross the manistee river at red bridge, and then head back on the north country trail, completing the loop by crossing the river again at the suspension bridge about a mile away from the campground.
These maps are pdf files, designed to be printed on a home printer or at a local print shop. You are either right next to the river or along the bluffs throughout the majority of the hike. The trail is part of the north country trail nct so it is well marked with signs leading the way. Manistee river 2020 all you need to know before you go. Near mesick, mi difficulty moderate for very hilly, uneven terrain open all year round distance approx. Made it a 2 and 12 day trip just to enjoy the beauty of the whole loop. It is considered, like the nearby au sable river, to be one of the best trout fisheries east of the rockies. Trail maps and downloads north country trail association. We planned on three days and two nights to backpack the north country trail manistee river loop in lower michigan. A 23mile loop trail is formed with the manistee river trail along the manistee river. Feb 14, 2017 the manistee river trail, together with a portion of the nct, forms a 20mile loop of varied hiking. North country trail manistee river loop there are several sections of the north country trail nct open in michigan, but this is only one of two that we know of that is worthy backpacking loop.
Manistee river trailnorth country trail loop cadillac, michigan. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from march until october. Besides a brand new bridge and local jobs, it may cut down on the crowds. It has a nice riverwalk which lets you enjoy it from the start of the mouth at lake michigan all the way to manistee lake. Oct 28, 2019 this is a hiking and xc skiing only trail. The manistee river trail intersects with the north. The loop is about 23 miles so we decided to do it in 3 days, with a short hike out to the car. The best views are along the nct between marilla trailhead and red hill. Manistee river trail the manistee river trail is a 8. This creates a 20mile loop hiking experience where numerous wildlife and bird species are common sites. North central michigan lower peninsula, manisteehuron national forest route. The manistee river trail is a popular beginner backpacking route in the midwest, the loop is created by joining with the north country trail as it moves through michigan.
Feb 18, 2016 the north country trail and manistee river trail loop is approximately 20 miles and is ideal for a relaxing hike with a group of friends or family who want to rough it for a weekend getaway. This is a good pdf that includes a map and summary information of the. We started the manistee river trail loop from the southern end at red bridge river access, then crossed the suspension bridge near the seaton creek campground. What i refer to as the manistee river trail 34 day loop is actually half the manistee river trail and half the north country trail. One of the undoubted highlights of this soontobe 4600mile beast, however, comes in the form of a slight but altogether sumptuous diversion comprised in the manistee river loop a fairly new addition the huronmanistee national forests network of trails which has quickly become one of the most popular hikes in the state. The north country trail and manistee river trail loop is approximately 20 miles and is ideal for a relaxing hike with a group of friends or family who want to rough it for a weekend getaway. Youll discover several nice campsites and panaramic views of the river all along the way. Manistee river trail loop red bridge closing a plan.
The big manistee river is a 190 mile river running through 4 michigan counties. Explore the north country trail upper manistee river trailhead near the manistee river trail where you will hike your way through the dense hardwoods high atop the manistee river bluffs. Manistee, mi 49660 231 7232211 voice 231 7230124 tty hiking the manistee national forest manistee river trail from the time when springs new leaves emerge until the bright colors of autumn paint the riparian hardwoods with shades of red and yellow, the manistee river is one of the more scenic areas of the manistee national forest. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. The manistee wild and scenic river is well known for beautiful scenery, excellent fishing and a variety of recreational activities. North country trail manistee loop overnight backpacking. Apr 28, 2016 backpacking the manistee river trail nct 20 mile loop in michigan.
Backpacking the manistee river trailnct 20 mile loop in michigan. We started at the upper trailhead from red bridge and ended up completing the 23. By combing the nct with the manistee river trail, the backpacker can create a nice 2 or 3 day trip that includes plenty of climbing, gorgeous views of. They are available by regional series, meaning there are maps of multiple trail sections included in each file. The manistee river trail loop michigan made and marvelous. The hike begins through trees and some rolling hills and you are soon rewarded with incredible views of the manistee river. Unmolested by bridges, cottages and dams, this wild stretch of michigans thirdlongest river appeals not only to paddlers and anglers looking for trophy trout but also to hikers. Hike along the nct through an expansive oldgrowth forest for 8. From hodenpyl dam pond the manistee river winds south uninhibited and free in the manistee national forest for miles before a road crosses it. The loop trail can be accessed from the marilla and upper river road trailheads for the north country national scenic trail and the red bridge and seaton creek accesses for.
The north country trail passes through it, and connects with the 11mile manistee river trail to form a 23mile loop. The highest point in the lower peninsula, briar hill 1,706 ft, is located here. The manistee river trail is located in michigans lower peninsula, about 270 miles 5 hours northwest of detroit, and 300 miles 512 hours northeast of chicago. Trail map and guide classic trails of michigan map series by combing the scenic manistee river trail with a portion of the north country trail, hikers can enjoy a 23mile, multiday trek with backcountry campsites, ridgetop views of the manistee river and even a waterfall or two. Ive hiked the manistee river trail a handful of times and i absolutely love it. To limit the spread of the coronavirus, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Big manistee river northern michigan trail maps first. Fall manistee rivernorth country trail loop hike meetup. The hodenpyle dam was built by consumers energy in the 1920s to harness the power of the manistee river and supply electricity to the surrounding area. The manistee river trail is a prime example of accessible backcountry hiking. We recommend you begin your adventure at red bridge along the southern most point on the manistee river trail and tackle the north country trail during your first day as this is one of the.
Manistee river trail loop red bridge closing a plan i think it is crazy to close this during the hiking season but hey maybe it is a good thing after all. One of the undoubted highlights of this soontobe 4600mile beast, however, comes in the form of a slight but altogether sumptuous diversion comprised in the manistee river loop a fairly new addition the huron manistee national forests network of trails which has quickly become one of the most popular hikes in the state. Trail manistee river trailnorth country trail loop where huronmanistee national forest. Be sure to pack bug repellant, plenty of water and. The official way back is the north country trail, but we took the upper river road back instead to avoid the densely wooded forest full of mosquitoes.
A new suspension footbridge across the manistee river below hodenpyl dam links the manistee river trail on the east side of the river with a section of the national north country trail on the west side. The north country trail nct connects to the manistee river trail to make a 23mile loop, perfect for a weekend trip. Continue along the river, which is runoff from the tippy. In fact, i am leaving in about 5 hours to hit the trail again this weekend. There are two trailheads for the manistee river trail, seaton creek campground and red. North country trailmanistee river loop there are several sections of the north country trail nct open in michigan, but this is only one of two that we know of that is worthy backpacking loop. North country trail manistee loop overnight backpacking youtube. With many access points to the trails, starting out at the upper river trailhead just off of coates highway is a great spot to begin. A 23mile loop can be formed with the north country national scenic trail. Though fairly isolated, the path is well marked and maintained. Tips for the first time backpacker april 2, 2017 by caitlynwithoutacompass 5 comments what i refer to as the manistee river trail 34 day loop is actually half the manistee river trail and half the north country trail. The manistee river hiking trail begins at seaton creek campground and follows the eastern bluff of the river 11miles to red bridge access site and campground.
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